Who is Number 9?

Sheffield FC 0 v Sheffield United 1
(Billed as U23)

Pre Season Friendly

Played at Coach And Horses Ground, Dronfield

Tuesday 11 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Eastwood, Bennett, Brooks are in Marbella
Reed is in Chesterfield
Stephen Mallon, Callum Semple & Regan Slater were here. But all walking wounded & not featuring.

And, I think United have played 21 players in total. Four of those were listed as trialists. Although one clearly wasn’t. Marcus Dewhurst kept goal in both halves. I’d not seen him play before today. Emphasising the makeshift nature of United’s goalkeeping situation at present.

Anyway. From the mainstay of the SUFC Development U18/U23 we had; Oliver Greaves, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Sam Graham, Jordan Doherty, Tyler Smith, Keenan Ferguson, George Cantrill, Harvey Gilmour, David Parkhouse, Jordan Hallam & Cameron Hawkes. Presumably, Kieran Wallace’s loan spells, etc have come to an end - because he was out there as well.

Club also played very different sides in each half. So, I’ve little idea of their strength. To me, it looked like United’s Big Guns were out there for the second half. But, Club coped well with them. It was a miserable night. What with that, the floodlights, sat behind the goal, and my contact lenses rather than glasses, I found it difficult to fully engage with what was happening at times. Particularly, when United were attacking the far end.

Nobody should get excited about the four trialists. At this time of year, at this level, it can simply be a matter of doing agents or other clubs favours. You scratch my back, etc. I did get some info about them. But, I can’t swear by that info enough to put details out publicly on here.

Except. Surely. It must be out there on the Internet somewhere. Please don’t let me be the one to let the cat out of the bag. Trialist No. 9. Looked very familiar. A young, powerful striker. Blond locks. A whiff of the Jostein Flo about him. Very combative. Always at it. Looking for all the world like a younger version of existing SUFC contracted player Jake Wright Jnr. Indeed, looking like an exactly same aged version of Jake Wright Jnr. Because. Trialist No. 9 WAS Jake Wright Jnr. Heaven knows what hole United had dug for themselves that meant they had to name as a trialist a player who is already on their books.

A lot of United players were mainly anonymous. As they ease back towards the season. In my book - Oli Greaves, Norrington-Davies & Tyler Smith were the brightest - by far. Jordan Doherty took his goal well. It’s not critical (at this stage of the season), but Wallace, Gilmour & Hallam were mainly in the background. Not much to learn at this stage. So, a good time to hit the Coach & Horses.

Five of their own on Cask. One guest. Four of their own on Keg.

Thornbridge, Godiva, Rye Pale Ale on cask at 4.3%. Between two stools really. No real red fruit, nor sweetness, from the rye. And no great bitter action. Coming around a bit. It's a pleasant & complex beer. Bursts with flavour & wait, wait, wait, the bitter does get there. Just why rye?

Thornbridge, Guinevere, Botanical Wit on keg at 6%. Great beer that. Damning it. Tastes like perfume. But, you know, in a good way. Some gentle citrus. But, then who knows. Herbs. Hay. Unusual, but you know, not a bad flavour anywhere in it.

Thornbridge, Pollards, Coffee Stout on Cask at 5%. Not to my taste. Too acid, sour, vinegar. Maybe that's supposed to come off the coffee. It's not bad. It's just not what I needed/expected.

501/1057
2